Being a uni student has its fair share of perks. There’s the lazy sleep-in on days when lectures don’t start until 11am, the ability to meet friends for coffee and call it a “study group”, and getting to do most of your hard work in your pjs, because assignments are written at home, at night, with Red Bull or coffee on hand. Sadly, there are downsides as well. Yep, it’s time to do a Block and talk budget.

Or rather, the things you can do when your budget would cause old mate Scotty Cam to tell you he’s ‘concerned’. Being a uni student often means being short on cash. This doesn’t mean you have to be short on adventure and fun, though.

Check out the weekend adventures you can have on a uni student budget.

There’s the free stuff:

Hiking. Put on some sturdy shoes, grab a friend that can’t afford a Crossfit class and get some fresh air. Bonus points for making it a Wild kind of adventure and camping out.

Free music. Brisbane has its fair share of free live music events you can experience for, you guessed it, zero dollarydoos. Check out these.

Netflix and chill. It’s free if you have a mate with an account. Bring that mate a few snacks, chuck a good show on (see our past blog post for ideas) and give your brain a break from all that study.

And there’s the almost-free stuff:

Pool tournament at the Uni Bar.

Have you heard about Griffith’s Uni Games? Join a team, or just go watch a game.

Netflix and chill. Not so free if you happen to be the friend with the account. Make sure the others bring snacks!

A resource written for young children won’t be relevant for an assignment that asks you to rely on scholarly evidence.

You’ve done the hard yards and found resources for your assignment. But just because you’ve found them, doesn’t mean you should actually use them. They may be out of date, biased or just plain wrong.

You will need to use your critical thinking skills to evaluate whether a source is suitable to use. Here are five factors to consider before you include a source of information in your assignment.

1. Currency

Check when your source was published and if it has been updated recently. It is important to know how up-to-date information is when you evaluate it for your assignments. Out of date information may not be appropriate.

2. Relevance

Relevance refers to how well the source meets your information needs. You should only use information that addresses your topic. If it barely touches on your topic, then it’s probably not something that you should use.

Also, consider the intended audience. A resource written for young children won’t be relevant for an assignment that asks you to rely on scholarly evidence.

Compare the source to others you have found to check that it is the most appropriate.

3. Authority

Who wrote it? Many journal articles and scholarly sources will provide vital details about the author. Where are they employed? What credentials do they have? What organisations are they affiliated with? This is all important stuff!

Also, consider the publisher or sponsoring organisation. Which journal was the article published in? Which organisation published the book or website? Sometimes the authority comes not from a single author, but from a reputable organisation or publisher.

The web address can also help you determine the authoritativeness of information found online. It can tell you if a source is from government (.gov), educational institution (.edu) or from other less regulated groups (.com, .net and .org).

4. Accuracy

Is your source using evidence to support their argument? Quality sources will usually provide references to other sources. Original research will tell you how they did their research and present data using graphs, and tables of results.

Sources are more likely to be accurate if other sources have verified the information. Look for language that is unbiased and objective.

5. Purpose

Why was the source created? Generally, you should be using sources that are created to inform or teach. Resources designed to sell products, entertain or persuade are less likely to be appropriate for university assignments.

Sources should include evidence and not present opinions. Always check if sources are biased or presenting political, ideological, cultural, religious or personal views.

You can find them by searching for their names in the library catalogue. They can provide you with information on the latest and greatest innovations and discoveries in the scientific world.

Cosmos is also a magazine that you can also read from your phone or mobile device by downloading the PressReader app. If you are on-campus and logged into the wi-fi, you should be able to download the magazine through the app. You may need to install and run the VPN Client to access the magazine off-campus.

When searching for a journal that you know the name of, limit your search in the library catalogue with the Journals radio button.

Help other students with their start at uni by becoming an O-Week Leader. Our volunteer OWLs provide amazing service during O-Week and make sure that commencing students have a great introduction to Griffith.

As an OWL you might…

Manage the information desk

Facilitate speed networking events

Help out on social media

Give advice all over campus

Our OWLS are all:

Positive about sharing the Griffith love

Happy to help out wherever they can

Excellent communicators

Ready and available for O’Week!

Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be an OWL? Then apply by completing the application form, which contains further information including a position description.

Well, apart from being week 7 of the trimester, week 5 of the current Game of Thrones season, and week 4 of The Bachelor…

It’s National Science Week! An annual celebration of science and technology, spanning 12 August to 20 August.

Are you studying a science degree? Now’s your time to totally rep your discipline and show your friends and fam how interesting science can be! Or if you’re not studying a science degree, it’s a perfect opportunity to learn a bit!

To celebrate National Science Week, events are being held throughout Queensland.

We’ve listed some below, though you can find a full list of events and further information about National Science Week at the Science Week website.

What: a special collection of microscopy images and biomedical illustrations from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute that invite you to see the most hidden parts of the body under the microscope.

Chilly, windy days; carnies flocking to town; and people doing their best to avoid a winter cold.

Starting next Monday, the round of Show holidays begins!

It’s time to brave the crowds, stock up on show bags, enjoy some rides, chow down some carnival food, and revel in the the fireworks. Or skip the Ekka all together and just enjoy a nice day off. Either or.

Monday 14 August is a public holiday for Logan campus. Wednesday 16 August is then a public holiday for all Brisbane campuses (we’re looking at you – Nathan, Mt Gravatt, and South Bank). And, all good things come to those who wait. So while it is a bit of a longer wait (soz), Friday 1 September it’s finally your turn Gold Coast!

Library opening hours have changed for the Show Holidays so be sure to check the library opening hours for your campus library.